Mark R. McMinn

Rey auditory-verbal learning test: Development of norms for healthy young adults

Abstract The Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) has been widely used in clinical neuropsychology because of the usefulness of its multiple measures of learning and memory and its ease of administration. Normative data has been reported for some patient populations but little normative data exists for healthy individuals. This study reports AVLT data for 222 job applicants, presently employed in a variety of occupations, who had previously passed basic-academic-skills tests and physical examinations and were motivated to perform well on AVLT testing. AVLT normative data are presented by WAIS-R FSIQ, Age, Education, and by Age and FSIQ combined. We also present a proposal for sharing and pooling data to expand the data matrix we present.

Maintaining Personal Resiliency: Lessons Learned from Evangelical Protestant Clergy

Despite the prominence of clergy in providing human services, and the work-related stressors they experience, clergy health and coping responses have rarely been the focus of psychological research. We report two studies. In the first, we evaluated responses of 398 senior pastors to three open-ended questions regarding personal coping, structural support for their work, and remediation efforts in times of distress. In the second study, Christian mental health professionals and Christian education professionals identified Protestant Christian clergy who exemplify emotional and spiritual health. Twenty-six participated in individual 30-minute interviews. Respondents emphasized the importance of being intentional in maintaining balance in life and developing healthy relationships. They also value a vital spiritual life, emphasizing both their sense of calling into ministry the importance of spiritual disciplines, and an ongoing awareness of Gods grace. We suggest ways that Christian mental health professionals can support pastors in preventive and remedial roles.

Basic and Advanced Competence in Collaborating With Clergy

Some of the stories of psychologists and clergy working together have happy endings, and some do not. Twenty psychologists and clergy who work together well were interviewed, and 94 clergy (53% response rate) and 145 psychologists (76% response rate) were surveyed. A 2-tiered schema for working well with clergy is proposed. Basic collaborative qualifications, such as respect for clergy and communication with clergy as needed, should be considered minimal competence for all professional psychologists. Additional qualifications, such as awareness of religious spirituality and shared values, are necessary for more advanced forms of collaboration.

Spiritually oriented interventions for counseling and psychotherapy.

Spirituality and religion influence the way many clients interpret their life experiences. Recognizing this reality, Spiritually Oriented Interventions for Counseling and Psychotherapy offers mental health professionals an in-depth look at how to integrate both Western and Eastern spiritually oriented interventions into clinical practice. Through a series of carefully selected interventions, the book examines in detail how each can be utilized in an ethically and culturally sensitive manner with a diverse spectrum of clients who wish to address sacred themes in therapy. Each chapter presents practical strategies and clinical examples of how to successfully implement spiritually oriented interventions into treatment. Relevant theories and research findings are also included. This book will be a valuable tool for equipping mental health professionals to work with spiritually and religiously diverse clients.

Psychology and the Church: An Exemplar of Psychologist-Clergy Collaboration

Despile the increasing attention being given to clergy-psychologist collaboration, many psychologists may wonder what clergy-psychologist collaboration looks like in actual practice. The authors describe an example of clergy-psychologist collaboration involving a careful needs-assessment phase followed by the development of a wide spectrum of preventive, consultative, and direct services. Current challenges include funding, establishment of trust, and the integration of psychology and spirituality. Implications for professional psychologists are discussed.

Values Affecting Collaboration Among Psychologists and Evangelical Clergy

Previous research has shown that shared values are important to both clergy and psychologists when considering the possibility of collaborating with one another, but it is not clear which values must be shared. Eighty-one psychologists and 56 evangelical Protestant clergy were surveyed using a values questionnaire developed by Jensen and Bergin (1988) with some additional items specifically pertaining to evangelical beliefs, revealing differences within value themes between clergy and psychologists. The epistemological foundations of the two professions create obstacles to collaboration, suggesting a need for psychologists to develop trusting relationships with clergy, engage in specialized training, and reevaluate the postmodern distinction between facts in the public domain and privately held values.

Religious Orientation, Guilt, Confession, and Forgiveness

Religious orientation and psychological functioning were investigated in an analog study with 83 participants. After completing the Religious Orientation Scale (Allport & Ross, 1967), participants read a continuous narrative with three scenarios in which they first committed a dishonest act, and then felt compelled to confess what they had done. The final scenario contained a manipulation of grace or no-grace, in which half of the participants were forgiven for their act and half were not. Following each scenario, participants were tested for feelings of guilt and related behavioral and emotional responses. Intrinsically religious participants were more prone to guilt, more likely to confess their wrongdoing, and more likely to forgive themselves than extrinsically religious subjects. Guilt was found to have a mediating effect between intrinsic religiousness and some, but not all, outcome variables. The potentially beneficial consequences of guilt are discussed.

Ethics Case-Study Simulation: A Generic Tool for Psychology Teachers.

A case-study simulation program designed to assist instructors in teaching ethics in psychology is described. The program is generic, allowing instructors to develop their own case studies to use with the software. Two case-study texts have been prepared for use with the program.

Factors Affecting Clergy-Psychologist Referral Patterns

Recent research on clergy-psychologist collaboration has resulted in helpful principles for clergy and psychologists working together, but very little is known about what specific characteristics in clergy are appealing to psychologists and vice versa. Two experimental survey studies are reported, both exploring characteristics that enhance or hinder collaboration. In Study 1, Southern Baptist pastors rated the likelihood of referring to a counselor who was identified as either a Biblical Counselor or a Christian Psychologist, and was identified as either being excellent in interpersonal skills or as using scripture and prayer in counseling. Pastors demonstrated a preference for counselors using scripture and prayer in counseling over those described as having excellent interpersonal skills. In Study 2, psychologist respondents rated the likelihood of referring to a clergyperson who was identified either as a Baptist or a Unitarian universalist, and was identified either as seminary trained or as having a doctoral degree from a prestigious divinity school. Psychologists demonstrated a preference for those with a doctoral degree. The weak effect sizes and comments offered on the surveys suggest that the individual relationship between clergy and psychologist is much more salient than particular demographic characteristics when considering the possibility of collaboration.

What Evangelical Pastors Want to Know about Psychology

Increasing attention has been given to psychologist-clergy collaboration in mainstream psychology journals, yet much remains to be considered regarding how these collaborative relationships will benefit the work of pastors and Christian congregations. The purpose of this research was to evaluate clergy perspectives regarding what psychologists can offer to facilitate the ministry of the church. Various methods of assessment were used, including a survey of evangelical pastors, responses to an open-ended question via electronic mail and in person, and a focus group of Christian mental health practitioners. Respondents indicated an interest in the relationship of sin and psychological disorder, interventions particularly related to marriage and family counseling, understanding of diverse personalities in dealing with church conflict, understanding of psychological disorders, and methods of caring for their personal needs as pastors. Recommendations are offered for those interested in collaborating with clergy.